This week’s Ruby began with Ruby chatting with her ex-boyfriend Denny on the phone, which is then followed by one of her “Women’s Fat Night” meetings with some of her heavy friends discussing sex. Then, the bombshell was dropped: Ruby is a virgin.
The declaration opens up all kinds of intrigue and speculation. Sure, the most obvious is wondering what kind of depth of emotional pain one must have to be a virgin at 47. Secondly, how could someone be in a relationship for more than eight years, as was the case with her ex Denny, and not have sex? Their relationship is already intriguing in that you’re looking at a fit guy with a woman who was once 700+ pounds.
While some people may not want to actually say it, that certainly must make most of us wonder. Could he have been a genuinely good person who saw her for who she is on the inside, and not minded her physical shortcomings? Sure. But, the realist – or perhaps cynic – in me has to wonder about his motives. Not that they were necessarily bad, but everyone has to be surprised by the relationship.
Then a possible explanation is exposed when you see that Denny’s brother, who recently died of a heart attack, was severely overweight. You can’t help but wonder if there is a conscious psychological connection, and that maybe Denny wanted to maybe change Ruby in a way he couldn’t his brother.
The theme of the show centered on the dynamics of the continued friendship between Ruby and Denny, and some of the flirting and possibility of them rekindling their relationship. And, in a turn of fate that you would have thought was written into the script, the two attend a church service that dealt with sexual relationships and not settling for someone who doesn’t accept you for who you are.
While the show was centered on the tensions associated with Ruby’s relationship with Denny and the possible feelings that she may still have for him, there were some positives. Sure, Ruby is a virgin, but she experienced other firsts in this episode. She wore jeans for the first time. She was able to make it through a turnstyle without getting stuck. And finally, Ruby went shopping for a bathing suit. And not only that, she “modeled” it to her friends as they shared a hot tub.